By RITA DUCKWORTHByron Byron Carlson Petri & Kalb, LLC handles business law, business litigation and personal injury. Founding partner Chris Byron’s primary focus is on litigation, corporate formation and real estate. “We represent local business entities, providing a broad range of legal advice from formation, employment issues, litigation, transactional work and real estate,” he said. Their experience in corporate real estate has resulted in a dual emphasis for Byron and the law firm. Not only do they represent companies in their real estate development endeavors, they play an active role in the development itself. The firm also recently opened its own title company, Edwardsville Title and Escrow, LLC, to further assist clients’ real estate needs. Byron’s most recent project is a partnership with Plocher Construction in the development of Park Street Plaza, LLC. At five stories, the office building will be the tallest in Edwardsville’s landscape. He and his firm have been involved in the development of projects such as Prairie Farms Dairy’s corporate headquarters, HeplerBroom Law Office, Greenmount Development Plaza, and Dewey’s Pizza. His first foray into the world of real estate was a building once owned by his grandfather. It now contains an office of Bryan Cave, LLP and The Foundry Public House restaurant. Byron doesn’t find the combination of law and development unusual. “Our emphasis on real estate law is mutually beneficial for the firm and its clients. It creates potential opportunities for clients and allows our firm to serve their needs,” he said. After attending The University of Southern California and University of Illinois, Byron got his law degree from Washington University School of Law. After working and becoming a partner at Gallop Johnson and Neuman in Clayton, he and associates Brian Kalb and Christopher Petri struck out on their own in Edwardsville, eventually merging with Eric Carlson. The firm consists of the four partners, three associates, two “of counsel” attorneys and four paralegals. The of counsel attorneys are Carlson’s father Jon G. Carlson and Byron’s father, Nicholas G. Byron. Jon Carlson is an experienced trial attorney and former president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Nick Byron was state’s attorney in Madison County before becoming a circuit judge and ultimately chief judge. “Having their combined knowledge is extremely helpful to the firm,” Chris Byron said. Byron and his wife live in their hometown of Edwardsville with their three children. He enjoys coaching their soccer teams when he’s not developing the firm and the town itself.